Exploring the international scale of academic excellence and practical skill enhancements for career building, University of Baguio students are seeking out opportunities to step into the limelight and gain exposure to professional competence as fifty-four (54) students from the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (UB-SIHTM) undergo cultural immersion and industry training in hospitality properties across the East Coast of the United States.
Through the BridgeUSA Cultural Exchange Program supported by ZIP Travel Philippines (Inner Outer Travel Inc.), the University of Baguio continues to bring its commitment to experiential and industry-based learning beyond the classroom. The program enriches the opportunity to work alongside international hospitality professionals, engage with guests from diverse cultural backgrounds, and gain firsthand knowledge of workplace practices in the United States.
For IHTM, this international exposure extends the school’s approach to hospitality education by connecting academic knowledge with practical skills, hands-on mentoring, industry immersion, and international on-the-job training. Dedicated programs develop graduates who demonstrate industry competence, deliver quality service with integrity, and perform at standards responsive to the demands of a multicultural and increasingly interconnected industry.
From Classroom Learning to Global Hospitality Practice
The current deployment of student interns and outbound delegates allows students to apply concepts developed through their academic preparation in real hospitality and tourism environments. This leverages guest relations, food and beverage operations, banquet services, front-of-house functions, teamwork, communication, adaptability, and professional conduct.
Students observe assignments and tasks across different properties, exposing them to varied organizational cultures and service systems. Rather than simply observing industry practices, they are entrusted with actual responsibilities that require initiative, attention to detail, problem-solving, and consistent service delivery.
The department’s curriculum deliberately incorporates field exposure and on-the-job training as integral components of professional preparation. The programs stated
- Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with a specialization in International Hospitality and Business Operations
- Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management with specialization in International Tourism
—includes extensive industry training and international on-the-job training designed to strengthen students’ operational competence and readiness for professional practice.
To benchmark and inform future student employment, university representatives and academic leaders conducted academic- and faculty-led cultural exchange visits to Florida, USA, engaging hospitality industry partners and examining practices that can help continuously enhance SIHTM’s programs. Offering a crucial academic-industry viewpoint:
What are the students’ experiences during their overseas placements, and how are they supported upon their return to the university and prepared for deployment?
Alt text: UB leaders and representatives from the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (SIHTM) along with outbound student delegates in the United States during their Ocular Visit under the BridgeUSA cultural exchange program
In line with similar events, on June 20, 2025, a visit to Orlando, Florida, was made by Linkages Office Director Ms. Melanie Saro, SIHTM Dean Dr. Jenelyn Magpatoc, and faculty member Ms. Jennifer Sese, who participated in discussions with host-company representatives and visited hospitality establishments to gain insights into international service standards and workplace practices.
At The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, FL, the delegation examined the operational environment of a premier luxury property and discussed practices associated with service excellence, including personalization, employee empowerment, attention to detail, and professional accountability.
As the academic leaders’ visit also establishes an important continuous-improvement cycle for UB-SIHTM, the delegation will compile further practices and insights from host businesses and industry partners after the most recent industry engagements. This helps identify areas where student preparation and workplace performance can be improved.
- Consolidating industry feedback on student performance, technical skills, and service delivery;
- Sharing relevant recommendations with students to strengthen their performance during their current and succeeding deployments;
- Discussing industry observations with faculty members to identify areas that may be reinforced through classroom instruction, simulation, mentoring, and skills training;
- Engaging industry partners in continuous feedback and competency development; and
- Integrating validated industry insights into academic and training activities to ensure that student preparation remains responsive to current hospitality and tourism practices.
Learning Beyond the Workplace
For the students, living and immersing in another country provides opportunities to develop cultural awareness, independence, communication skills, resilience, and confidence. These qualities are particularly important in hospitality and tourism, where professionals interact daily with people from different backgrounds and expectations.
The immersion also included cultural events, such as the visit to Cirque du Soleil, which gave delegates the chance to see how the larger hospitality ecosystem interacts with entertainment, creativity, storytelling, and visitor experience. Meanwhile, the university explored potential industry partnerships and cooperative projects thanks to an eye-opening visit to The Beach Club in Palm Beach, Florida.
These activities reinforced the department’s broader educational philosophy through professional preparation that goes beyond technical competence. Students must also understand culture, service, creativity, responsibility, and the human dimension of the hospitality industry. The global program identifies multicultural responsibility, integrity, competence, and a passion for excellence as qualities it seeks to develop in its graduates.
Student Testimonials: BRIDGEUSA Cultural Program
“The BridgeUSA Program taught me the importance of adaptability, communication, teamwork, and professionalism.”
Bella Bagote Salvador, a BSTM-IT student who trained at The Peabody Memphis in Tennessee, described how working in different areas, including barback, server assistant, food runner, banquet staff, and host, helped her become more independent and confident, highlighting the challenge of adjusting to a new work environment and communicating in English, noting that the experience helped her recognize capabilities she had previously underestimated.
“Sometimes, you discover what you are capable of only when someone gives you the chance to try.”
For Bianca Angeli Aguedan Calaramo, a BSHM-IHBO student who trained at The Brown Hotel in Kentucky, meaningful learning came from both her professional responsibilities and the relationships she built during her stay. Her training exposed her to bartending, barista work, serving, hosting, and buffet service. More importantly, she valued being trusted to work independently and make decisions at work.
“Being open to learning from others and from every experience has helped me grow both personally and professionally.”
Sharon Princess Dwaynne Tamayo, a BSTM-IT student who trained at Sea Island Resort in Georgia, found meaning in interacting with guests and learning how thoughtful service can improve a person’s stay. Her experience strengthened her appreciation for anticipating guest needs, paying attention to detail, and responding to different people with patience and professionalism.
For UB-SIHTM, partnerships are not simply avenues for student placement. They are opportunities to strengthen curriculum relevance, enhance professional preparation, and create pathways for students to understand the standards and expectations of the international hospitality and tourism industry.
Supporting the university’s internationalization efforts while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), particularly:
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Preparing the Next Generation of Hospitality Professionals
From the classroom to the real world, BridgeUSA is central to UB’s continuing commitment to international exposure and experiential education. The initiative fosters continuous learning among students, faculty, academic leaders, and industry partners.
It prepares graduates who are not only technically capable but also adaptable, culturally aware, service-oriented, and ready to contribute to the hospitality and tourism industry wherever their careers may take them. From simulation to real guest service, and from academic preparation to cultural immersion, the program allows students to turn knowledge into practice.
Building the competence, confidence, and cultural understanding to carry the FILIPINO BRAND OF SERVICE worldwide.
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Written by: Jennifer G. Sese, Faculty Member, SIHTM
Article enhancement by Gabriel Madriaga
